Improve your indoor air quality

Did you know that the air quality in your home can be 2 to 5 times worse than the air outdoors? Dust particles that you see floating in a beam of sunlight in your home have thousands of microscopic allergens such as pollen, mold spores, dust mite debris, bacteria and more, that can be harmful to your health

Medical experts say there are steps you can take to minimize the health risks associated with poor indoor air quality. A portable air purifier is one way to capture airborne particles and reduce or eliminate indoor pollutants. Clean air is a vital part of healthy living. Make it a priority in your home.

How to choose an air purifier

1. Determine your needs:

• Reduce airborne allergens
• Minimize dust
• Remove odours
• Help reduce airborne germs

2. Know the size of the room you need covered:

• Check the packaging for the CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate)
• The higher the CADR, the more powerful and effective the unit can be at removing particles from the air, and the larger the size of room for which the unit is suited.

3. Choose the type of air purifier that matches your needs:

Remember to look for the AHAM and Energy Star seals on air purifier products.

True HEPA Air Purifier

• Provides the highest air cleaning efficiency
• The most recommended by doctors for relief of allergy and asthma symptoms
• Tested to remove 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns
• Available in all sizes, some with permanent filters that need cleaning annually
• Look for AHAM seal to know unit has been tested and certified effective for your room size

HEPA-Type Air Purifier

• Great for general air purification
• Used all year-round, 24 hours-a-day
• Removes up to 99% of all airborne particles that are in every home
• Comes in all sizes, some with permanent filters that need occasional cleaning
• Look for AHAM seal to know unit has been tested and certified effective for your room size

Electronic Filtration

• Great for general air cleaning
• Effective for capturing small particles like dust, pet dander, smoke and pollen
• Several models have permanent filters that you can rinse and re-use
• Typically offer the quietest operation
• Look for the AHAM seal to know unit has been tested and certified effective for your room size

UV Sanitizer

• Uses ultraviolet light to destroy airborne germs, bacteria and viruses in the home
• No filters to clean or replace
• UV light needs to be replaced annually

Air Purifier Filters

Since the effectiveness of your air purifier is dependent on keeping it well maintained, it is important to replace or clean your air purifier filter and pre-filter as recommended by the manufacturer’s instructions. The majority of air purifiers use permanent filters.

• An air purifier’s HEPA filter should be cleaned once or twice a year either with a vacuum or some can be washed. If it is a disposable filter, replace once every 12 months or so, depending on how much you use it.
• An air purifier’s carbon filter should be replaced every 3 months, depending on the level of usage.
• Some air purifiers, usually top-end models, contain pre-filters for catching the larger particles in the air. These pre-filters, more often than not, should be replaced every 3 months. Some can be reused by simply washing them and leaving them to dry before placing back in the air purifier.
• An activated carbon pre-filter, which stops most particles of dust from going into the HEPA should be replaced every 3 months.

Always read the label instructions for your air purifier system to get specific details for your particular air purifier.